2. Macro Economic Objectives
internal balance
fully employed economy (e.g. unemployment
rate = 4%)
reasonable amount of inflation (inflation rate =
2%)
external balance – balance on current account is
zero
overall balance – both internal and external
balance
3. Macro Economic Policies
fiscal policy – government changes spending
and taxation. The reduction in taxation
stimulates consumption spending.
Increased government borrowing can
affect the interest rate.
monetary policy – central bank changes
money supply and this affects interest
rates which in turn affect investment and
consumption spending
In an open economy, the interest rate
changes will affect the demand for currency
4. Expansionary Macro Policy in a Closed Economy
• Increase money supply
• Decrease taxes and/or increase government spending
Expansionary policies operate to
increase aggregate demand (from
AD0 to AD1) in the short run and this
will increase the level of output (500
to 700) through a multiplier. The size
of the multiplier will be reduced to the
extent that other spending is
“crowded out” by the expansionary
macro economic policy.
5. Closed Economy (no exchange rate or trade sector)
starting with less than full employment - short run effects
Fiscal Policy
(expansionary)
G ↑
and/or
T ↓
G and C ↑
Y ↑ by a
multiplier times the
change in (C+I+G)
C↑, G↑, but I↓
Gov’t Borrowing ↑ → int rate ↑ →
Investment ↓
(this is called “crowding out”)
Monetary Policy
(expansionary)
M ↑ int rate ↓ → Investment ↑ and C ↑
Y ↑ by multiplier
times the change in
(C+I)
C↑, I↑
6. Expansionary Fiscal Policy with
Floating Exchange Rates
o appreciation leads to decline in net exports. This is
a type of “crowding out”.
o this reduces the impact of fiscal policy
o initial effect is move
from AD0 to AD1
o greater deficit leads to
increased interest rates
o causes inflow of
foreign investment
o increased demand for
domestic currency
7. Open Economy (floating exchange rate, free capital flows)
starting with less than full employment - short run effects
Fiscal Policy
(expansionary)
G ↑
and/or
T ↓
G and C ↑ Y ↑ by multiplier
times the change in
(C+I+G + NX)
Note that NX is down
so this policy has less
impact than in a closed
economy
Gov’t Borrowing ↑ → int
rate ↑ → increased demand
for currency →currency
appreciation→Net exports↓
(this is called “crowding out”)
Monetary
Policy
(expansionary)
M ↑
int rate ↓ → decreased
demand for currency
→currency depreciation→Net
exports ↑
Y ↑ by multiplier
times the change in
(C+I+NX))
Note that NX is up so
this policy has a larger
impact than in a closed
economy
8. Expansionary Fiscal Policy with Fixed
Exchange Rates
Primary Effect (AD0-AD1)
Increased domestic spending (from
G up or T down)
Secondary Effect (AD1-AD2)
Increased government borrowing
increases domestic interest rates.
This increases foreign demand for
the currency and upward pressure
on the exchange rate. To maintain
the fixed exchange rate, the money
supply must increase, and this
causes an additional increase in
aggregate demand
Secondary Effect
Gov’t Borrows interest rate
demand for currency
(exchange rate fixed) M AD
9. Open Economy (fixed exchange rate, free capital flows)
starting with less than full employment - short run effects
Fiscal Policy
(expansionary)
G ↑
and/or
T ↓
G and C ↑
Y ↑ by multiplier
times the change in
(C+I+G + NX)
Note that NX is not
“crowded out” as in
the floating case, so
this stimulus is larger
Gov’t Borrowing ↑ → int rate ↑
→ increased demand for
currency →currency
appreciation→M↑→monetary
injection to maintain the fixed
exchange rate.
Monetary
Policy
(expansionary)
M ↑
int rate ↓ → decreased demand
for currency →currency
depreciation→M↓→money
supply must be increased to
maintain fixed exchange rate ,
negating part of the initial M ↑
Y ↑ by multiplier
times the change in
(C+I+NX))
Note that NX is up so
this policy has a larger
impact than in a closed
economy
11. Interesting Scenarios
recession & current account deficit
o under floating exchange rate system
expansionary monetary policy causes
increase in GDP as well as depreciation
improving current account deficit
o But expansionary fiscal policy could lead to
an appreciation of the currency and a
worsening of the current account deficit
12. Interesting Scenarios
inflation & current account deficit
o under floating exchange contractionary
monetary policy limits inflation but leads to
appreciation increasing current account deficit
o monetary policy cannot restore both internal
and external balance
